Noise properties of high-temperature superconducting dc-SQUID gradiometers

We have developed different types of superconducting magnetic field sensors based on high temperature superconducting (HTS) thin films. Here, we describe the fabrication of single layer dc-SQUID gradiometers with bicrystal Josephson junctions for operation in a flip-chip configuration to improve sensor performance. High-quality thin films are known to be essential in achieving suitable electrical properties in these superconducting devices. The influence of sample processing on sensor performance is discussed. The most important parameter for practical applications is the field gradient resolution of the investigated dc-SQUID sensors. To determine this parameter for different gradiometer layouts we measured their noise properties in unshielded as well as magnetically or electrically shielded environments.